Receiver cap for hearing aids



Nov. 1, 1949. L. E. MEDLIN 2,436,534

RECEIVER CAP FOR HEARING AIDS Filed April 12, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

' lewwzmdam Patented Nov. 1, 1 949 RECEIVER CAP FOR HEARING AIDS Lewis E. Medlin, Evanston, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Otarion, Inc., Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 12, 1945, Serial No. 588,001

This invention relates to an improved construction of cap or shield for the electrical cable connections to the receiver of a hearing aid.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive molded cap of the type described, adapted for quick and easy snap-on engagement with the receiver, which shields the connections of the receiver to the associated cable and effectively resists displacement from the receiver.

It is a further object to provide a cap of the above type which is moldable in a plastic or similar material in a number of flesh colors rendering the same very inconspicuous when worn by the user.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the improved apparatus herein described.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, illustrating the receiver cap of the invention, with a connecting cable fragmentarily shown in association therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, partially broken away and in vertical section to illustrate the method of snap-n connection of the cap to the receiver body;

Fig. 3,is a rear view of the cap per se, further illustrating provisions enabling its snap-on attachment to the receiver; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view still further illustrating said provisions.

An objection to many hearing aid devices now on the market resides in the fact that the receiver worn in or adjacent the ear of the user is comparatively conspicuous, being usually fabricated in black, so as to result in embarrassment to the user to a greater or less degree. The present invention provides a receiver of the type described wherein the visible component is of a flesh color or tone rendering the same quite inconspicuous, said component further having improved construction enabling snap-on engagement with the body of the receiver, to the end that the color of the snap-on element may be selected'as desired for any given receiver.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral Ill designates the generally drum-shaped receiver body of a well known type of hearing aid unit, said body being applicable to the aural channel of a wearer in well known fashion and being connected to the amplifier of the hearin aid by a cable H. Said cable may be attached to the body ID by a connector structure such as is illustrated in the copending application of v No. 2,434,211, Jan. 6, 1948, and to the amplifier 3 Claims. (Cl. 179-107) Denison B. Hull and Lewis E. Medlin Serial No.

588,000, filed April 12, 1945, issued U. S. Patent by a construction illustrated in the copending application of Denison B. Hull and Lewis E. Medlin, Serial No. 592,490, filed May 7, 1945, now abandoned.

In the embodiment under consideration the body is generally circular in cross section, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and is provided with an annular groove l2 extending therearound medially of the front-to-rear direction thereof, between opposite ends thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The reference numeral l3 designates a cap for the receiver which is preferably molded of a suitable resilient plastic material of which many types are known to the trade; and it is likewise produced in several different flesh colors or tones, or in a transparent condition, thereby minimizing conspicuousness of appearance when the receiver is worn.

As illustrated in the drawing, the cap I3 is molded in a circular, generally cup-shaped section, being outwardly rounded at I4 and provided with a rounded cable receiving extension Hi. In order to render the flange ll of the cap I 3 appropriately springable, likewise to enable reception of cable ll internally of the cap, said flange is slotted at l8 adjacent the cable extension I5;

as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

On its rear side the flange I1 is provided with a plurality of inwardly extending, segmental retaining ears l9 which'are engageable in the anrliailar recess l2 to hold the cap in place on body In use, an appropriate color of cap is selected, and, by flexing the flange ll laterally outwardly, the cap is applied over the side of the receiver body on which the cable connections are mounted, the cable being received in the slot l8 and the ears l9 being released for snap-on engagement in recess l2. This effectively secures the cap in operative position and resists inadvertent displacement therefrom.

I claim:

1. In an ear receiver for a hearing aid, a generally drum-like body and a cap releasably mounted on said body .to shield the cable connections thereof, said cap comprising a cup-like element in a non-conspicuous color tone, said element having a springable portion adapted to be telescoped over the body which is split to receive a cable and impart flexibility to said portion, and being provided with means directed inwardly of the periphery thereof for releasably releasably mounted on the external side of said body, said cap comprising a cup-like element molded from springable plastic, said element having a springable peripheral flange adapted to be telescoped over the body and said flange being slotted to receive a cable and to increase the flexibility thereof, and having inwardly projecting detent members thereon, said body having an annular undercut recess in its external periphery between opposite ends thereof to receive said members in snap-on engagement of the cap, whereby displacement of the latter is resisted.

3. In an ear receiver for a hearing aid, a generally drum-like receiver body adapted to be secured on or adjacent the users ear and a cap releasably mounted on the external side of said body, said cap comprising a cup-like element molded from springable plastic in a non-conspicuous and flesh-like tone, said element having a springable peripheral flange adapted to be telescoped over the body and said flange being slotted to receive a cable and to increase the flexibility thereof, and having inwardly projecting detent members thereon, said body having an annular undercut channel in its externa1 periphery between opposite ends thereof to receive said members in snap-on engagement of the cap, whereby displacement of the latter is resisted.

LEWIS E. MEDLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,601,063 Frederick Sept. 28, 1926 2,182,607 .Alden Dec. 5, 1939 2,284,063 Modine May 26, 1942 2,390,243 Faltico Dec. 4, 1943 2,365,888 Linderfelt 1 Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 148,876 Switzerland Nov. 3, 1931 

